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How do I get my free credit report?

Experian offers South African consumers free unlimited access to their My Credit Check and My Credit Expert credit reports and credit scores.

What is Experian Sigma?

The My Credit Check portal references data from the Experian Sigma database, which is the historical Compuscan bureau database. Your My Credit Check credit report and credit score are generated from the Experian Sigma database.

Your credit report can’t be viewed by just anyone! The information contained in your credit report is confidential, and companies and individuals who wish to view your report may only do so for a prescribed purpose. The National Credit Regulator (NCR) has set out specific guidelines in accordance with the National Credit Act (NCA) that deal with prescribed purposes. Experian prides itself on protecting your privacy and we always comply by the rules and regulations provided by the NCR.

Is my free credit report stopping me from getting a job?

No. Your free credit report is not usually a deciding factor on whether or not you’ll get a job. In fact, according to the Employment Equity Act of 1998, potential employers may not deny you a job on the grounds of the nature of your credit report, unless your credit profile is an inherent requirement of the job – in other words, if you are going to be employed in a position that requires trust and honesty and entails the handling of cash or finances.

Do I need to check my free credit report if I pay all my debt on time?

Yes. It is important that you check your credit report regularly to ensure that the information is being reported to the credit bureau correctly. Also remember to use your credit report to detect any fraudulent activity against your record.

Will regularly checking my free credit check affect my credit score?

No, we do not penalise you for checking your credit score or your credit report on My Credit Check.

Will my free credit report show when I was denied credit?

No. Potential credit providers will, however, be able to see how many enquiries other lenders have made on your profile, but nowhere will it say if the applications were unsuccessful.

Will debt information remain on my free credit report after I have paid?

Yes. Your free credit report will still show that you owed money and paid it off. The good news is that this will be seen as positive information, since your free credit report will show that the account has been paid in full! If, however, you have not handled the account well, the historical bad repayment behaviour will be seen in a negative light. It is therefore important to always pay your creditors on time. The retention period for accounts that are paid in full is 5 years after the last payment date. However, Experian’s free My Credit Check credit report will only show the information for three years after the last payment date.

Can a credit bureau stop me from getting credit?

No. Credit bureaus are not credit providers, so they have no say in whether you are granted credit or not. However, the data provided by Experian to potential credit providers will assist them in making that decision, which is why it is so important for you to get your credit report and take control of your credit reputation.

If I have a lot of debt, will my credit score will be bad?

That depends, if you have a lot of debt, but you are managing it well, you will have a good credit score! Your repayment history affects your free credit score and appears on your credit report. Meaning, if you have been a bad payer, your score will reflect this. The total amount of your credit does not usually affect the outcome of your credit score, since your credit score is mostly calculated according to your repayment actions and not necessarily by the amount you owe. Just be aware that if your revolving accounts and credit cards have a balance of 50% or more of the limit, the score could be affected.

What should I do if the information on my free credit check report looks wrong?

If any of the information on your credit report is incorrect, outdated or unfair, you may log a dispute with Experian following the process below. When you contact our call centre, you will be requested to submit a copy of your ID and proof of address (no older than 3 months) to verify your identity and in support of your dispute. Supporting documentation may also be required. Once all documentation is received, you will be supplied with an Experian reference number.

Allow 20 business days for Experian to resolve your dispute or query. During this time, Experian will contact the supplier of the disputed data for further information and evidence relating to the data. The information being disputed will be masked from display during the 20-business day investigation period and a notice to this effect is displayed on the credit report during this period to notify the reader that there is a dispute under way and that all the information is not reflected on the credit report. If, at the end of this period, Experian does not receive credible evidence from the supplier to support the data, the dispute will be resolved in your favour.